When Melbourne writer Paul Sterling received a package from France, sent by his old friend Marie Duval, he could hardly have guessed at the secrets it contained. Now, closely supervised by his wife, Suzanne, Paul has undertaken his biggest challenge yet - to mould the diary notes and journal entries of his good friend Marie, into memoirs that will finally reveal her secret professional life.
From a small provincial village in France where her sister was the main attraction, Marie was the shyest and purest of young women before meeting the man of her dreams and embarking on an amazing journey of discovery. Spanning several decades, covering different continents and crashing through all the stigmas and sexual barriers imposed by modern society, Marie's work was an exploration of sensuality in a world saturated by stimulation, yet often shunning its expression.
Marie spent 13 years as a French courtesan in Australia. She loved her job and her understanding husband Pierre, but even her closest friends didn't know about her work and her research, as she unlocked the secrets of a city and its hidden liaisons.
